Hiring Organization Information
Position Information
The Foraker Group seeks a values-driven leader to serve as its Vice President of People and Culture. Foraker’s Vice President of People and Culture will be responsible for both supporting leadership in nurturing an attractive workplace for Foraker staff and for overseeing Foraker’s work in strengthening the human resources of Alaska’s nonprofits and tribes. The ideal candidate will be a highly experienced human resources professional with broad knowledge about a comprehensive array of HR topics and a strong commitment to relationship-based work.
Foraker’s Work Environment
Foraker offers the opportunity to engage in meaningful work to improve our communities. Our team is comprised of leaders who embrace a team approach to systems change. Staff members are passionate and committed to meeting high expectations of themselves and others while working collaboratively and creatively in a supportive environment. We believe that workplace wellness should always be a priority, and we encourage staff to practice self-care.
Our goal is always to serve to the highest degree possible while maintaining a workplace that is respectful, safe, flexible, and welcoming.
The Foraker Group is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. The Foraker Group is especially interested in candidates whose background and experience have prepared them to grow our commitment to engagement and inclusion with culturally diverse groups.
Key Responsibilities:
Foraker Human Resources
- Serve as Foraker’s internal HR leader, providing strategic thinking for advancing Foraker’s purpose and values in all areas of our work and, in particular, our human resources.
- Help steward Foraker as a place of belonging and work with Foraker’s leadership team on strategies to recruit and retain staff and nurture an attractive workplace culture.
- Provide guidance and support to Foraker staff on Foraker benefits and wage progression, performance evaluation processes, and overall HR personnel policy implementation.
- Oversee hiring, orientation/onboarding, and exiting processes for all staff and contractors.
- Administer Foraker’s employee benefit plan including group insurance plans.
- Mentor and assist Foraker supervisors in their supervision of Foraker team members.
- Co-lead regular staff and contractor connection meetings.
Human Resources Shared Services and Consulting
- Provide fee-for-service activities by delivering capacity-building training and facilitation to nonprofit organizations and tribes using Foraker models, philosophy and process on HR topics including, but not limited to: the application of strategic and administrative HR responsibilities, compensation and benefits, mentorship and supervision, workforce planning, employee relations, conflict resolution and mediation, and risk management and compliance.
- Oversee and grow HR Shared Services for external Foraker Partners, which may include, but is not limited to advising and mentoring nonprofit and tribal leaders on HR best practices and policies and serving as an HR resource for Foraker Partners.
- Oversee recruitment, contracting, and workload for all HR consultants and provide them guidance and communication to ensure high-quality service delivery and alignment with Foraker philosophy and approach.
- Oversee the management of contractual relationships with all Foraker contractors.
- Partner with Foraker’s Organizational Development, From Bias to Belonging and Leadership Transition teams to support delivery of those services.
Education and Training
- Provide training and classes for nonprofits and tribes on HR topics through Foraker’s community classes and by request for individual organizations. Develop new content aligned to Foraker philosophy and practices as needed.
- Serve as an instructor for Foraker’s leadership cohort offerings including Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Executive Leadership Intensive, and Lead Up.
Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate
While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the VP of People and Culture will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
Skills and Experiences:
- A minimum of ten years of professional experience in human resources or related fields; experience in the nonprofit sector is preferred.
- Advanced professional certification in the HR sector (SHRM, PSHRA, or HRCI) preferred.
- Knowledge of and ability to provide strategic guidance on a comprehensive array of HR topics.
- A strong working knowledge and understanding of FMLA, EEO, ADA, and FLSA regulations and other federal and Alaska labor and employment laws.
- Experience in employee relations and strong skills in creating and nurturing supportive environments and workplace culture based on each organization’s core values.
- Experience and skills in capacity-building, teaching, and mentoring others.
- Knowledge, skills, and experience in mediation and conflict resolution.
- Ability to lead teams and strategically deploy resources.
- Ability to create appropriate personal and professional boundaries in challenging environments and maintain confidentiality.
- Excellent project management skills.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
- Knowledge of nonprofit organization development frameworks and current trends in the nonprofit sector.
- Experience building new business lines or programming while maintaining profitability a plus.
Attributes:
- Strong commitment to a relationship-based approach to work and Human Resources.
- Desire to provide excellent customer service, work collaboratively, project a welcoming and helpful approach, and treat others with respect and consideration.
- Superior ability to work within a team and strong emotional intelligence to understand and participate in a variety of team dynamics.
- Strong commitment to both process and results; ability to organize and prioritize work and to be self-motivated and detail oriented.
- Ability to work in a dynamic environment with the ability to adapt and respond to shifting priorities, deal effectively under pressure, and exercise flexibility, initiative, and good judgement.
- Ability to bring humor, grace, and compassion to challenging situations while working alongside others.
- A clear communicator with a high level of trust and discretion.
- Ability to ask for support and the understanding that this work can be emotionally challenging.
- Ability to work with culturally diverse people and organizations in rural and urban Alaska and embodiment of Foraker’s diversity, equity, and belonging commitments.
- Willingness and ability to travel to urban and remote locations.